A sold out Jack Trice Stadium will host the 53rd meeting between Iowa and Iowa State. The Hawkeyes are eighth ranked after a 56-0 win over Ball State. The Cyclones had a tougher time in their opener has they pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 32-21 win over Illinois State. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says this is the first of several big games the Hawkeyes will have this season. He says ISU has a very experienced team that’s improved from last year. The Hawkeyes scored at will last week but Ferentz says the Cyclone defense poses a much tougher challenge. He says they have three guys who played well last year back, and says they’re a little like his team was last year. Ferentz says it still comes down to how his offense plays against their defense. Ferentz says the Hawkeyes need to learn how to play a big game on the road as they’re going to play in a lot of big games this year. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney says the Hawkeye deserve their ranking as they’re well-coached and know what they’re doing. He says Iowa won’t change a lot of things when they’ve won nine games in a row. McCarney says with Drew Tate at quarterback the Hawkeyes will be tough to stop. He says you love to see that with a quarterback as a coach. McCarney says Tate is one of the toughest players on any field with great mental and physical toughness. After a sub-par effort last week the Cyclones act like a team that has something to prove. McCarney expects a more inspired performance on Saturday but in the heated atmosphere of this game it is also important to keep emotions in check. He says you can expend all your energy early if you go to overboard. He says it’s a long game and you have to be ready to make good decisions throughout.
